The Mexican (2001)

Director:

Gore Verbinski

Writer (WGA):

J.H. Wyman (written by)

Release Date:

2 March 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Romance

Tagline:

love with the safety off

Plot:

A man tries to transport an ancient gun called The Mexican, believed to carry a curse, back across the border, while his girlfriend pressures him to give up his criminal ways.

Plot Keywords:

Pistol | Curse | Mob | Gay | Hostage

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Brad Pitt	...	Jerry Welbach
Julia Roberts	...	Samantha Barzel
James Gandolfini	...	Winston Baldry
J.K. Simmons	...	Ted Slocum
Bob Balaban	...	Bernie Nayman
Sherman Augustus	...	Well Dressed Black Man
Michael Cerveris	...	Frank
Richard Coca	...	Car Thief #1
David Krumholtz	...	Beck
Castulo Guerra	...	Joe the Pawnshop Owner
Mayra Serbulo	...	Emanuelle (as Maira Serbulo)
Salvador Sánchez	...	Gunsmith
Alan Ciangherotti	...	Gunsmith's Assistant (as Alan Cianguerotti)
Melisa Romero	...	Gunsmith's Daughter
Ernesto Gómez Cruz	...	Tropillo
Daniel Escobar	...	Raoul
Dale Raoul	...	Estelle
Jeremy Roberts	...	Bobby Victory
Jorge Malpica	...	Mexican Gas Station Clerk
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.	...	Mexican Policeman
Steve Rossi	...	Vegas M.C.
Clint Curtis	...	Vegas Busboy
Lawrence Bender	...	Vegas Onlooker
Ariane Pellicer	...	Mexican Ticket Agent
Carlos Lacamara	...	Mexican Car Rental Rep
Daniel Zacapa	...	Mexican Bartender
Alfredo Escobar	...	Car Thief #2
Luis Artagnan	...	Car Thief #3
Fermín Martínez	...	Chicken Farmer
José Carlos Rodríguez	...	Hotel Clerk
Gustavo Aguilar Tejada	...	Junk Yard Proprietor (as Gustavo Aguilar)
Lucía Pailles	...	Mexican Woman at Phone
Gilberto Barraza	...	2nd Man with Gun
Humberto Fernández Tristan	...	Nobleman
Luis Felipe Tovar	...	Nobleman's Son
Fausta Torres	...	Elderly Mexican Lady
Loló Navarro	...	Chosen Grandmother
Emiliano Guerra	...	Small Boy with Flashlight
Miguel Ángel Fuentes	...	Big Car Thief #4
Angelina Peláez	...	Mother
Arthur Taxier	...	Hotel Security
William Fuller	...	Big Tom
Gerardo Taracena	...	Reveler to Fire Gun
John Pisci	...	Musician
Rudy Aikels	...	Musician
Ronald Simone	...	Musician
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eloïssa Florez	...	Village girl (uncredited)
Gene Hackman	...	Arnold Margolese (uncredited)
Harv Lawrence	...	Tourist Bar Patron (uncredited)
Marco López	...	Border Patrol Officer (uncredited)
Gloria M. Malgarini	...	Diner Patron (uncredited)
Bob Pepper	...	Food Court Patron (uncredited)
Michael A. Tessiero	...	Nightclub Customer #4 (uncredited)

Directed by
Gore Verbinski

Writing credits (WGA)
J.H. Wyman		(written by)

Produced by
John Baldecchi	....	producer
Christopher Ball	....	executive producer
William S. Beasley	....	co-producer
Lawrence Bender	....	producer
Paul Hellerman	....	co-producer
Aaron Ryder	....	executive producer
William Tyrer	....	executive producer (as William Tyrer)
J.H. Wyman	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Alan Silvestri

Cinematography by
Dariusz Wolski

Film Editing by
Craig Wood

Casting by
Denise Chamian

Production Design by
Cecilia Montiel

Art Direction by
Michael Atwell
Diego Sandoval
Jennifer Vogt		(co-art director)

Set Decoration by
Sandra Cabriada
Robert Greenfield

Costume Design by
Colleen Atwood

Makeup Department
Jennifer Aspinall	....	makeup artist
Jean Ann Black	....	makeup artist
Sheryl Blum	....	hair stylist
Bonnie Clevering	....	hair stylist: Ms. Roberts
Richard Dean	....	makeup artist: Ms. Roberts
Mary L. Mastro	....	hair department head
Randy Westgate	....	key makeup artist
Carol F. Doran	....	wig maker (uncredited)

Production Management
William S. Beasley	....	unit production manager
Steph Benseman	....	unit production manager
Arturo Del Rio	....	unit manager
Ricardo Del Río	....	unit production manager: Mexico
Erica Frauman	....	post-production supervisor
David Frost	....	production manager: Mexico
Sharyn Shimada-Huggins	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Benita Allen	....	assistant director (as Benita Allen-Honess)
M. James Arnett	....	second unit director
Dieter 'Dietman' Busch	....	second second assistant director (as Dieter Busch)
Giselle Gurza	....	second second assistant director
Yvette Gurza	....	second assistant director
Frederic Roth	....	second assistant director
Joaquin Silva	....	second assistant director: Mexico
René Villarreal	....	first assistant director: Mexico

Art Department
Maite Argüelles	....	art department coordinator
George Atamian	....	set dresser
Alejandro Ayala	....	construction coordinator: Mexico
Jim Bandsuh	....	illustrator
Colin Bardon	....	carpenter
Rene Corona	....	swing
Joaquín de la Riva	....	set dressing assistant
Marcelo Del Rio	....	set designer
Brendan C. Fenton	....	set dresser
Juan Pablo García	....	set designer
Pete Gikas	....	set dresser: Las Vegas
Eduardo Martinez Gonzalez	....	head carpenter
Randal R. Groves	....	location foreman
Christopher Humbracht	....	props
Ann Knight	....	buyer
John Hammer Maxwell	....	on-set dresser (as John H. Maxwell)
Sean O'Connell	....	set dresser
Kris Peck	....	assistant property master
Laurel Pickering	....	lead painter
Jeff Plauster	....	gang boss
Ric Prier	....	set dresser: Las Vegas
Tomas Rodriguez Tovar	....	leadman
Ashley Sibille	....	art department coordinator
David Snodgrass	....	set dresser: Las Vegas
John Stone	....	construction coordinator
Giovanni Tartaglia	....	assistant props: Las Vegas
Tommy 'Tom' Tomlinson	....	property master
Cole Young	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Mike Anderson	....	utility sound
Michael Axinn	....	assistant adr editor (as Mike Axinn)
Chris Barron	....	digital sound transferer
Karen Brocco	....	assistant dialogue editor
Lindakay Brown	....	dialogue editor
Tim Burby	....	digital sound transferer
Brian Chumney	....	digital support
John Countryman	....	digital sound transferer
Travis Crenshaw	....	machine room operator
Dean Drabin	....	adr mixer
Edwin Dunkley	....	video services
Tony Eckert	....	foley mixer
Sean England	....	machine room operator
Diana Flores	....	adr mixer
Doug Ford	....	engineering services
Megan Fouts	....	sound post-production assistant
Jonathan Greber	....	digital sound transferer
J.R. Grubbs	....	sound effects editor
Howie Hammerman	....	engineering services
Tim Holland	....	supervising sound editor
David Hunter	....	digital support
Bruce Lacey	....	adr supervisor
Mike Lane	....	sound post-production assistant
Brian Magerkurth	....	machine room operator
Frank 'Pepe' Merel	....	foley recordist
Ernesto Muñoz	....	boom operator
Tom Myers	....	sound designer
Eva Napolean	....	sound post-production assistant
Jonathan Null	....	foley editor (as Jon Null)
Lee Orloff	....	production sound mixer
Thomas A. Payne	....	boom operator
Ronald G. Roumas	....	sound re-recordist
Gary Rydstrom	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dennis S. Sands	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dennis Sands)
Jurgen Scharpf	....	sound mix technician
Cary Stratton	....	adr recordist
Gary Summers	....	sound re-recording mixer
Addison Teague	....	supervising assistant sound editor
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley artist
John Torrijos	....	video services
Jana Vance	....	foley artist
Karen G. Wilson	....	dialogue editor (as Karen Wilson)
Chris Roberts	....	adr mixer: UK (uncredited)
Addison Teague	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David J. Barker	....	assistant special effects: Las Vegas
Jose A. Cordero	....	special effects assistant: Mexico (as Jose Angel Cordero Perez)
Laurencio Cordero	....	special effects coordinator: Mexico unit
Manuel Cordero	....	special effects assistant: Mexico
Scott Inoue	....	special effects foreman
Matt Kutcher	....	special effects coordinator
Andrew J. Loprino	....	special effects
Jeffrey Machit	....	special effects (as J.C. Machit)
Rosario Reyes	....	special effects office coordinator (as Rosario R. Reyes)

Visual Effects by
Jessica Abroms	....	technical supervisor: PDI
Gianni Aliotti	....	digital animator: PDI
Gianni Aliotti	....	digital artist: PDI/Dreamworks
Bernadette Castillo	....	visual effects coordinator: Method Studios
Richard Chuang	....	visual effects supervisor: PDI
Alex Frisch	....	visual effects supervisor: Method Studios
Oliver Gondry	....	3D artist: Method Studios
John Hanashiro	....	visual effects editor
Jason Heapy	....	visual effects producer: PDI
Neysa Horsburgh	....	visual effects executive producer: Method Studios
Michael Kaelin	....	digital compositor: PDI
Mel Kangleon	....	color timer: PDI
Mel Kangleon	....	digital animator: PDI
Mel Kangleon	....	digital artist: PDI
Kymber Lim	....	visual effects producer: Method Studios
Michael Macias	....	digital animator: PDI
Michael Macias	....	digital artist: PDI
Scott McNiel	....	visual effects artist: Method Studios
Sean Mullen	....	digital compositor: D1 trailer and paintwork: Encore
Jennifer Leo Russ	....	visual effects editor (as Jennifer Taylor)
Brandon Sanders	....	apprentice artist: Method Studios
Chris Staves	....	visual effects artist: Method Studios
Chris Trimble	....	digital artist: PDI/Dreamworks
Andreas Wacker	....	technical supervisor: Method Studios
Shannon Wiggins	....	digital artist: PDI
Erik Winquist	....	digital artist: PDI/Dreamworks
Nina Yoon	....	apprentice artist: Method Studios
Nina Yoon	....	rotoscope artist
Philip R. Garrett	....	assistant visual effects editor: PDI/DreamWorks (uncredited)
Stephen Sobisky	....	virtual effects project manager (uncredited)

Stunts
M. James Arnett	....	stunt coordinator (as Jim Arnett)
Seth Arnett	....	stunt coordinator
Tom Elliott	....	utility stunts
Frank Ferrara	....	stunt double: Leroy
Harrison Fuller	....	stunt double: William Fuller
Martha Garrido	....	stunt double: Gunsmith's Daughter
Tanner Gill	....	stunt double: Leroy
Keii Johnston	....	utility stunts
Randolph LeRoi	....	stunt double: Well Dressed Black Man
Jesus Olaide	....	stunt double: Beck
Michael A. Rizza	....	precision driver
George A. Sack Jr.	....	stunt driver
Matthew Taylor	....	stunt double: Brad Pitt
Julie Wagner	....	stunt double
Steve Kelso	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Greg Barrera	....	electrician: Las Vegas
Reynaldo Barrera	....	electrician: Las Vegas
Richard Clark	....	video playback operator
Michael J. Coo	....	key grip
Christopher Duddy	....	camera operator
Jon Dwyer	....	grip: Las Vegas
Craig Grossmueller	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Juan Fernando Guzmán	....	electrician
Mitchell K. Hiniker	....	grip
Joe Lamb	....	grip: Las Vegas
Jeff Milewsky	....	grip: Las Vegas
Daniel Moder	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Dan Moder)
Daniel P. Moore	....	video operator
Merrick Morton	....	still photographer
Andres L. Porras	....	camera operator
Deidra Prestridge	....	video assist operator: Las Vegas
Gary Sauer	....	crane technician
Martin Schaer	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Jeremy Settles	....	grip
John Skotchdopole	....	assistant camera
Tony Varuola	....	electrician: Las Vegas
Doug Weinmann	....	rigging electric best boy
Steve Wolfe	....	second assistant camera
Greg Barrera	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sande Alessi	....	extras casting
Kristan Berona	....	extras casting
Chris Bustard	....	extras casting: additional photography
Michael Hothorn	....	casting associate
Diane Kirman	....	location casting: Las Vegas
Scout Masterson	....	casting assistant
Francisco Veyro	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Holly Davis	....	key costumer
Jonny Pray	....	costume supervisor
Adolfo Ramírez	....	wardrobe supervisor
Fran Vega-Buck	....	costumer: Ms. Roberts (as Frances Vega)
Sandra O'Toole	....	costume textile artist (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Tony Bacigalupi	....	assistant editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Martin Cohen	....	post-production executive
Brian Dettor	....	editorial production assistant
Sven E. Fahlgren	....	post-production coordinator
Peter Fandetti	....	first assistant editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (as Dale Grahn)
Mark S. Henning	....	post-production intern
Simon Morgan	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Todd Homme	....	executive in charge of music
Fred Johnston	....	music playback
Kenneth Karman	....	music editor (as Ken Karman)
Adam Kay	....	assistant music editor
René Mijares Tao	....	music advisor: mariachi scenes
Denise Okimoto	....	music editor
Conrad Pope	....	orchestrator
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer
Alan Silvestri	....	conductor
Alan Silvestri	....	orchestrator
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Sally Stevens	....	choir director
Jacqueline Tager	....	assistant music editor

Transportation Department
Brumby Broussard	....	driver: Ms. Roberts
Denny Caira	....	transportation coordinator
Ricardo Gallarzo Jr.	....	transportation coordinator: Real De Catorce
Elvis Greene	....	driver: Mr. Pitt
Buddy Hunter	....	transportation captain: Las Vegas
Scott Jimerson	....	driver
Carlos Ponce de León	....	transportation captain
Mike Shannon	....	transportation captain
Roger Wooge	....	transportation
Gil Amaral	....	driver (uncredited)
Everett Everett	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Vern Abila	....	security: Ms. Roberts
David Bifano	....	programmer (as Dave Bifano)
Robert Blomstrom	....	production assistant: Las Vegas
Emmanuel Cabare	....	unit chief
Kristin Conrad	....	production coordinator
Marco Polo Constandse	....	production assistant
Martin Corkidi	....	production assistant
Carolina Cortes	....	production assistant
Stel Deleon	....	second assistant accountant
Gina D'Orazio	....	production coordinator
Douglas Dresser	....	location manager
Roxana Eisenmann	....	production coordinator
Marcy Engelman	....	publicist: Ms. Roberts
Albert Epps	....	additional location manager
Primrose Fukuchi	....	assistant accountant: Las Vegas
Brad Furman	....	assistant: Ms. Roberts
Omar Arias González	....	assistant location manager
Cynthia Graves	....	production coordinator
William Shane Grisco	....	animal handler (as William S. Grisco)
Cindy Guagenti	....	publicist: Mr. Pitt
Gabriela Gutiérrez	....	production assistant
Sergio Gutierrez	....	horse wrangler
Steven Hacker	....	production assistant
Nancy Haecker	....	location manager: Las Vegas
Marc A. Hammer	....	production coordinator
Cate Hardman	....	script supervisor
Joshua T. Harris	....	production assistant
Slade Hart	....	production assistant
Lisa Hatch	....	production assistant: Las Vegas
Alfredo Hernandez	....	head wrangler: Mexico
'Chico' Hernandez	....	livestock coordinator: Mexico (as Jose Maria Hernandez Haro)
Jose Maria Hernandez III	....	wrangler
Lora Hingst	....	location assistant
JoAnn Fregalette Jansen	....	choreographer
Joseph Keideth	....	security: Ms. Roberts
Brian King	....	title designer
Paula Kramer	....	assistant production office coordinator (as Paula Piepho)
Scott Leclau	....	assistant to executive producer
David Lindsay	....	security: Mr. Pitt
Steven Moder	....	editorial systems engineer
Steven R. Molen	....	production executive
Niamh Murphy	....	textile artist
Boone Narr	....	animal handler
Amy Ostrower	....	key second assistant accountant
Eric Persons	....	key assistant location manager
Adriana Poblano	....	assistant production office coordinator
Judy Pursley	....	first assistant accountant
Mario Ramirez	....	location scout
Norma Ramos	....	assistant accountant
Amanda Roberts	....	production assistant
Arturo Romero	....	production accountant: Mexico
Taffy Schweickhardt	....	payroll accountant
Susan Simone	....	production assistant: Las Vegas
Steve Solomon	....	animal handler (as Steve M. Solomon)
Lora Somoza	....	assistant: Mr. Verbinski
Michael Soppelsa	....	security: Mr. Pitt
Benjamin Suarez	....	location manager: mexico
Jeff Swafford	....	assistant to producer
Marsha L. Swinton	....	first assistant accountant
Allen E. Taylor	....	financial representative
Peggy Tison	....	first assistant accountant: Las Vegas (as Peggy Anne Tison-Kirkby)
Bill Vergos	....	office production assistant
Sue-Allen Villalva	....	travel coordinator
Cindy Wilkinson Kirven	....	executive: Newmarket
Alex L. Worman	....	unit publicist
David Zerr	....	assistant to producer
Crisoforo Aguilar	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Paul Ballon	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Kaiser Clark	....	assistant to cast (uncredited)
Bill Gula	....	photosonics operator (uncredited)
Michael C. Lund	....	assistant production office coordinator: additional photography (uncredited)
Jesus Quinones	....	wrangler (uncredited)
Kimberly Rach	....	production coordinator (uncredited)
Jamie Worlds	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• DreamWorks SKG
• Newmarket Capital Group
• Lawrence Bender Productions
• Pistolero Productions LLC

Distributors

• DreamWorks Distribution (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (non-USA) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2001) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Helkon Filmverleih GmbH (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Humax Pictures (2001) (Japan) (theatrical)
• TriPictures (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• AXN (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2005) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• DreamWorks Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• DreamWorks Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• SBS6 (2004) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Universal Pictures Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Method Studios (visual effects)
• Pacific Data Images (PDI) (visual effects and animation)
• Temptu (tattoos)

Other Companies

• Art In Motion  production services: Mexico
• Behind the Scenes Freight  shipping by
• Capitol Studios  music recorded at
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Custom Film Effects  titles and opticals
• Decca Records  soundtrack published by
• Hollywood Film Chorale  score vocals
• Hollywood Fires  picture vehicles
• Inter Video  24 frame video playback
• J.R. Lighting  crane provided by
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  copyist (as Jo Ann Kane Music Service)
• L.A. Mad Dogs  adr voice casting (as L.A. MadDogs)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services
• Technicolor  color
• Temptu  tattoo design
• Todd-AO Scoring Stage  music recorded at

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Malaysia:18PL (uncut) | Malaysia:U (cut) | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:MA (cable rating)

Filming Locations:

Belz Factory Outlet Mall - 7400 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

James Gandolfini reportedly lost 35 pounds for his role as Winston, all of which he had to gain back before shooting re-commenced on the upcoming season of "The Sopranos" (1999) because producer David Chase believed that "The Sopranos" audience would not like a "skinny" Tony (Soprano).

Goofs:

Continuity: When approaching the tractor/trailer around the 1.5 hour mark, for some reason the passenger door on the tractor is open, after passing the tractor the door can be seen to be closed in the rear view shot from the El Camino.

Quotes:

Jerry: I need a lift in your el truck-o to the next town-o!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: The Making of 'The Mexican' (#8.1)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You

Far too long !!!

Sounds promising, Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt. Sounds, is about as far as it went though. A bit more editing was needed to trim the film down from a rather lengthy two hours. For something billed as a comedy the laughs are pretty few. There is no chemistry at all between Brad and Julia and generally the acting is pretty dire. Probably the only saving grace was James Gandolfini. One to watch if you are a Brad Pitt or Julia Roberts fan only I would say, or perhaps you are suffering from insomnia !